I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

In the seawater, it moved very fast. In almost no time, its figure appeared near Xiwang. As it got closer, the flames on its body became more and more ferocious, and the crew members left on the aircraft launched an attack.

But... it didn't fight back.

Even though the flames summoned by Xiwang covered its entire body, and even though countless attacks left wounds on its body, it did not retaliate. It simply swam around the ice surface where Xiwang was, floating and sinking, trying its best to use the seawater to reduce the damage caused by the flames... nothing more.

"嘤——"

It called out softly again, its voice filled with sadness and grievance. It tried several times to approach the ice, but ultimately did not.

Xi Wang suddenly realized that its gaze seemed to be fixed on him, and he... seemed to sense it as well.

--------

[Entry: Blood Relative (Orca/Skati) (Blue), Now in Effect]

[A killer whale that can be called "Skati" has greatly increased its fondness for you!]

[Entry: Blessing of Flowing Water/Ocean (Purple), special conditions met, now active!]

[Your Honkai adaptability has been greatly improved, increasing your chances of becoming a "Herrscher"!]

--------

Immediately, Xiwang stopped the rest of the team from continuing to attack it... Although the others were puzzled, they did not object because the flames were still burning on it. After all, they still trusted you during the battle.

However, they had a slightly bad feeling about it.

Then, they heard the Honkai Beast let out a clear cry... After seeing that you had stopped the attacks of the others and that even the flames on its body had weakened a little, its voice became light and joyful, and it slowly swayed its tail fin as it approached you... Finally, it gently leaped out, moved its huge front half onto the ice, faced you, and let out some affectionate calls.

Seeing this, Xi Wang seemed to be attracted as well. He slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of it, feeling the joy and affection it constantly conveyed. A little doubt flashed in Xi Wang's eyes... More importantly, he did indeed sense a strange sense of closeness from it, as if they had once been "one".

The flames still burned on its body, incinerating it and melting the ice beneath its feet... but it was unwilling to leave, only letting out a clear chirping sound in front of Xiwang, as if it were speaking.

"........."

Xi Wang hesitated for a long time, but in the end, she decided to put down the umbrella.

tick-

Raindrops fell on his warm body, bringing a cool temperature and conveying... the emotions of water.

Joy, welcome, nostalgia, and... a mother's care—these emotions entered Xi Wang's heart with uncanny clarity, which felt strange.

Along with this came numerous fragmented images.

He could see him struggling in the ocean, gnawing on the remains of the Honkai Beast, he could see him struggling to escape the "ocean," and he could also see... him and it together in the "ocean."

It is a companion, it is... a "blood relative".

"嘤——"

It seemed to sense something, let out a happy cry, and even ignored the flames spreading across its body. It simply stood in front of you, looking at you, as if waiting for something, as if anticipating something.

As if sensing something, Xi Wang hesitated for a moment before finally making a move that surprised and frightened the others—he raised his hand and gently stroked the Honkai Beast engulfed in flames. What's more, the Honkai Beast affectionately rubbed against his palm and let out a slightly happy cry.

It seemed content with this, quietly enjoying the caress of the sun, letting the flames devour it, leaving only a huge skeleton and some remains.

Xi Wang stood there blankly, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

"Father, you..."

"I am fine."

When questioned by others, Xi Wang simply stared blankly at her remaining remains and responded softly.

"That Honkai Beast..."

"[Skadi]".

"what?"

"Its name... you can just call it... [code name]."

After saying this, Xi Wang stopped talking and simply bowed her head in prayer, confessing to Him her inappropriate actions and strange thoughts.

However, He had no objection to this.

…………

………………

Xi Wang's actions quickly became known to the entire Moth Chaser. Under the guidance of those with ulterior motives, everyone believed that Xi Wang was very likely a "traitor," or rather, an existence similar to a "Honkai Creation." Otherwise, how could his close interaction with "Skadi" be explained?

Almost immediately, Dawn was placed under house arrest at his residence... Moth of the Flame originally wanted to imprison him in the Deepest Place, but because Dawn himself was unwilling, and Aponia was also there... Moth of the Flame was worried that the two of them would team up to cause trouble for them, so he only placed him under house arrest at his residence.

By this time, Xi Wang's strange power was also considered by some to be the power of collapse, and Xi Wang's reputation worsened, with everyone's suspicion of him reaching its peak.

Xi Wang didn't care about this; he was currently immersed in repentance towards "Him".

…………

………………

dong dong——

"Please come in."

Hearing the knock on the door, Xi Wang, who was still praying, opened her eyes and said softly.

"It's really not easy for me to come see you, Father."

Hen pushed open the door and said half-jokingly, but seeing that you were silent and did not respond, he quickly changed the subject and put his things aside.

They were a painting and a rather strangely shaped sword.

“Gresh said the painting for you is finished, and the sword and scabbard you requested were also made by Velvet, so I just picked them up on the way.”

"Thank you, may He bless you, loyal warrior."

"Hey, I should thank you more, after all, you saved my life."

Hen waved his hand, indicating that he didn't care... Although Xiwang, like Aponia, often does things that are hard to understand, and Xiwang is even particularly tough when he acts, it is undeniable that many of Xiwang's actions have played a positive role in objectively.

For example, Xiwang's almost constant attacks to clear out the Honkai, coupled with his consistent record of "zero casualties in the team," allowed the Fire Moth to effectively preserve its strength.

The strange mark left to him by Xiwang earlier allowed him to survive the attack of [Heavenly Fire Judgment]. It can be said that his life was given by Xiwang, which also prevented the Fire Moth from losing another "Fusion Warrior" in the "Ninth Herrscher Extermination Battle".

And the mark he left on Kevin allowed Kevin to touch Mei again, which greatly improved Kevin's mental state... All of this was because of Xi Wang.

To be honest, Hen didn't quite understand why there were so many malicious rumors about Xi Wang within the Fire Moth... He vaguely guessed what it was, but he couldn't change anything. He could only do his own thing and try to improve his relationship with Xi Wang... Besides, Gresh didn't know why she liked him so much, which made Hen a little sad.

"Alright, I've brought the things. Although I'd like to chat with you some more, Father, you know I can't stay here for long... Anyway, please don't worry, there are still people who understand you and believe in you, Father."

Although somewhat helpless, Hen still stepped forward, patted Xi Wang on the shoulder to express his attitude, and then waved and left... Xi Wang was still under house arrest. If it weren't for the two things he brought being of a very special nature, he probably wouldn't have been able to get in.

"........."

Xi Wang remained silent, but got up and went to the two objects.

The first thing he picked up was that sword. The hilt was in the shape of a cross, and the overall pattern was gold. But if you looked closely, you could see a dark layer hidden inside. When he pulled the sword out, he found that the blade was a bit strange. It was coated with a fiery red color and had no tip. The top of the sword was square, as if a piece of it had been broken off. The blade was not sharp at all and could not cause any damage.

In addition, the strange patterns engraved on the blade suggest that it... should be a ceremonial sword.

This is what He requires. In His words, "The one who administers judgment cannot do without the necessary sword... Only the sword can administer judgment."

Considering that all judgments are carried out through fire, this ritual sword seems somewhat superfluous... but since it is His will, Xiwang should follow it.

As for the scabbard... that was Xi Wang's own idea. After all, if there is a sword, then there should be a scabbard, right?

As for the materials used for this sword and scabbard... they are the remains of the Honkai Beast named Skadi.

Although using the remains of Honkai Beasts to make weapons is a common practice among the Fire Moths, Xiwang's strange behavior earlier, coupled with his later insistence on using the remains of Skadi to make weapons... all these actions made everyone more suspicious of him.

However, Xiwang did not care about these things, because this was His will.

He will extend kindness to humanity, right?

"........."

Xi Wang remained silent, simply sheathing the sword and hanging it at his waist.

Immediately, Xiwang looked at another item—the painting that Greta had given him.

Because of his actions, Gretchen's father, Hen, was able to survive. Knowing this, Gretchen decided to paint a picture of him... Although Gretchen had said that she was originally going to paint a picture of Xiwang because she... liked him very much.

In Gretchen's words, it was something like, "Brother Xiwang... the color on the priest's clothes is very familiar, I like it very much... this time, it has become warm... it feels very comfortable to be close to him..." something like that?

However, the painting Greta drew for him... seemed a little strange.

In the painting, a young priest kneels amidst raging flames, which gradually engulf him, cutting off his escape route. He seems oblivious, merely lowering his head slightly and clutching the cross pendant on his chest as if in prayer. However, his overall posture appears unusually stiff, like that of a manipulated puppet.

Following his body upwards, one can see faint threads connecting him to a wooden cross frame, just like the wooden frames used to manipulate puppets. However, there is no "person" controlling this frame, not even a "hand," let alone a "god." Only at the very top of the picture, there is a faint "glory," seemingly painted with just a few brushstrokes, as if to indicate that a "god" truly exists.

My gaze shifted to a corner of the frame, where Greta Thunberg had given the painting the title: "God".

Xi Wang remained silent, then placed the painting in a corner against the wall.

Upon reaching the bathroom, Xi Wang washed her hands as usual, preparing to read the Bible that "He" had given her. Looking up at herself in the mirror, Xi Wang was momentarily stunned.

The reflection in the mirror... its face seemed far from calm. The strange, tricolored pupils were completely dominated by gold, reflecting only resentment, hostility, and a predatory danger. The clothes it wore were not the usual priest's robes, but a dark "hunter's outfit" made of some unknown material...

Surrounded by azure water, even her dark hair turned white like waves, and pure white wings quietly emerged from behind her, as if about to open, with the faint scent of lilies wafting from her nose.

The surroundings began to feel damp, and the temperature started to drop, as if he were not in his own dwelling, but in the deep sea.

A blurry scene appears, showing cherry blossoms falling and withering, Alicia "sealing" herself, and most importantly... him wielding a dark greatsword, manipulating the water, and killing familiar people.

"........."

Even with her eyes closed, the scene wouldn't fade away; instead, it kept replaying in her mind, and a variety of complex emotions welled up within her. But... to this, Xi Wang simply tightened her grip on the increasingly hot cross pendant in her hand, and suddenly a bright flame flashed around her, dispelling the damp environment and burning away the illusory lily that was about to appear.

"call……"

He readjusted his breathing, opened his eyes, looked at himself in the mirror, and realized that everything before was just an illusion. He... was still himself, a devout believer of "Him".

But... was that really an illusion...?

Or... is that something that actually happened?

Xi Wang stopped thinking about it.

【Ah……】

Faintly, one could hear His soft laughter again, but as always, He made no attempt to explain.

He had no opinion on anything that was happening now.